Central Elections Committee Debates Use of Elector App on Election Day
The Central Elections Committee debated the use of voter-tracking apps on election day following a High Court request. A majority of committee members are expected to support the continued use of the Elector app despite opposition.
Debate Over Privacy and Election Rules
The Central Elections Committee convened on Sunday to discuss the use of voter-management applications on election day. The debate follows a Supreme Court request to re-examine the ban on transferring real-time data to political parties regarding which voters have already cast their ballots.
Despite opposition from the Attorney General and the committee chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, current assessments indicate that a majority of the committee members will vote to allow the continued use of the Elector application.
During the session, a sharp confrontation arose between MK Amit Halevi and Advocate Gershon, representing the Privacy Protection Authority. Halevi questioned the authority's sudden stance:
"Where was your decisive stance on this issue over the past ten years? What are you getting paid for? If this is so severe, where have you been until today?"
The authority's representative responded that their position on the matter has been clear over the years, but they had not been asked to present it in previous discussions.
Changing the Rules Mid-Game
Deputy Chairman of the Elections Committee, MK Erez Malul (Shas), opposed the ban, arguing that it constitutes changing the rules of the game during an active election campaign. He suggested that any decision to block real-time voting data requires a broader examination by a public committee headed by a retired Supreme Court justice.
MK Simcha Rothman joined the criticism, arguing that the proposed ban lacks authority:
"If I, as a committee chairman, convened the Constitution Committee on something I disliked and legislated the opposite, what would they tell me? 'How can you change the rules mid-game?' So how do you want to change something here that has been customary since the founding of the state without any authority?"
Ensuring Election Integrity
Advocate Moshe Morgenstern, representing the Degel HaTorah party, argued that real-time information actually helps preserve election integrity. He noted instances where low voter turnout at specific polling stations was caused by deliberate delays by staff, which was only detected and resolved due to real-time tracking by parties.
Conversely, Advocate Eran Mirenberg argued that the committee cannot authorize a practice that does not comply with the law, citing past Supreme Court rulings. However, the final vote is expected to yield a majority in favor of continuing the use of Elector on election day.
